Battle of Phu Loc

The Battle of Phu Loc was a battle of the Vietnam War which was fought from 28 August to 10 December 1974.

Throughout 1974, the North Vietnamese NVA had threatened Hue during seesaw fighting for control of the Nui Mo Tau hills to the south, and the ARVN saw the sporadic fighting as little more than training exercises. In July, however, several ARVN units were redeployed to Quang Nam Province, weakening the ARVN strength in Phu Loc and convincing the NVA to assault the ARVN in the Nui Mo Tau hills. The NVA captured the hills and proceeded to close the Phu Bai Air Base and interdict Highway 1, and the ARVN - fearing that Hue was now threatened - sent in its reserves to counterattack against the NVA. The hills were recaptured after fighting which depleted the ARVN reserve forces. While the ARVN had repelled the NVA attacks, they had lost an irreplaceable number of troops, and the NVA sent in fresh battalions and tanks under the cover of anti-aircraft guns.